Duties and responsibilities of the department.

Consistent with the mandate of s. 381.7395, the department shall develop and administer a multilevel treatment program for individuals who sustain brain or spinal cord injuries and who are referred to the brain and spinal cord injury program.

(1) Within 15 days after any report of an individual who has sustained a brain or spinal cord injury, the department shall notify the individual or the most immediate available family members of their right to assistance from the state, the services available, and the eligibility requirements.

(2) The department shall refer individuals who have brain or spinal cord injuries to other state agencies to ensure that rehabilitative services, if desired, are obtained by that individual.

(3) The department, in consultation with emergency medical service, shall develop standards for an emergency medical evacuation system that will ensure that all individuals who sustain traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries are transported to a department-approved trauma center that meets the standards and criteria established by the emergency medical service and the acute-care standards of the brain and spinal cord injury program.

(4) The department shall develop standards for designation of rehabilitation centers to provide rehabilitation services for individuals who have brain or spinal cord injuries.

(5) The department shall determine the appropriate number of designated acute-care facilities, inpatient rehabilitation centers, and outpatient rehabilitation centers needed based on incidence, volume of admissions, and other appropriate criteria.

(6) The department shall develop standards for designation of transitional living facilities to provide transitional living services for individuals who participate in the brain and spinal cord injury program.